These past few days, the streets and teahouses of Luzhi Ancient Town have been bustling with small groups of people—some dressed in traditional long gowns, others in youthful attire. The feature film “Ye Shengtao in Luzhi” is currently being filmed there at a brisk pace. Yesterday, a reporter made a special trip to the set to visit the production crew.
The screen’s first portrayal of Ye Shengtao
From 1917 to 1921, the renowned Chinese writer, educator, publisher, and social activist Mr. Ye Shengtao served as a teacher at what was then the Fifth Higher Primary School of Wuxian County (now the Ye Shengtao Experimental Primary School), launching a series of educational reforms whose ideas continue to hold significant relevance for contemporary quality‑oriented education. Mr. Ye often remarked, “My true teaching career began in Luzhi,” and “Luzhi is my second hometown.” Deeply attached to Luzhi, he even instructed his family, on his deathbed, to inter his ashes there. To promote Ye Shengtao’s educational philosophy and artistically bring to life his extraordinary experiences in Luzhi during his youth, People’s Education Press, Nanjing Film Studio, the Luzhi Town People’s Government, and Nanjing Qunying Film & Television Culture Brokerage Co., Ltd. jointly produced the feature film “Ye Shengtao in Luzhi.” Reportedly, this is the first film in China to date that portrays the life of Mr. Ye Shengtao. Xu Jialu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, personally inscribed the film’s title.
The film tells the story of the 1920s, when Ye Shengtao turned down the opportunity to attend Peking University and, at Luzhi Primary School, joined like-minded colleagues in breaking free from the constraints of the feudal education system and overcoming numerous obstacles. Together, they launched a series of bold reforms in textbooks, curricula, and teaching methods. Ye championed an educational philosophy that grounded learning in everyday life, tailored to students’ real-world experiences, and integrated theory with practice. He introduced new‑style education, guiding students to create their own textbooks, establish a reading room, and cultivate a “student‑run farm.” He also tirelessly explored pedagogical principles suited to China’s national conditions at the time. This 90‑minute feature film begins with a young Ye Shengtao, in his early twenties and dressed in traditional attire, stepping onto the land of Luzhi aboard a black‑canopied boat. Accordingly, most of the film’s scenes were shot on location in Luzhi. Set against the backdrop of Luzhi’s quaint bridges, flowing streams, and historic townhouses, the movie authentically portrays Ye Shengtao’s work and daily life at Luzhi Primary School, vividly bringing to life his deep affection for the local people and his profound attachment to the rich Wu‑style culture of this ancient town. Filming commenced in Luzhi on October 24, with principal photography expected to wrap up by the end of November and post‑production slated for completion by April next year.
It should resemble the original in form and even more so in spirit.
At the launch ceremony for “Ye Shengtao in Luzhi,” held last month, Ye Xiaomo, Ye Shengtao’s granddaughter, clasped the hand of the actor portraying Ye Shengtao and exclaimed excitedly, “Grandpa!” She added, “He looks almost exactly like my grandfather did in his youth.” The young Ye Shengtao is played by the up-and-coming actor Wei Yong. In fact, Wei Yong is already a seasoned performer who has appeared in numerous films and TV series, often taking on leading roles—always positive ones. Wei Yong’s connection with Ye Shengtao stems from his striking resemblance. With sharply defined features and a strong, angular face, his upper half bears an uncanny likeness to Ye Shengtao in his younger days. When the film’s director, the co‑production team, and Ye Shengtao’s family first saw photos of Wei Yong, they immediately chose him. During filming, the costume designer made only minor adjustments to his hair; otherwise, his appearance remained largely unchanged. Wei Yong deeply cherishes this opportunity to portray Ye Shengtao: “Mr. Ye was a pioneer of China’s educational reform. Playing such a role is a rare chance in my artistic journey.” He goes on to emphasize, “A physical resemblance is only the starting point; what truly matters is capturing the spirit.” To fully grasp the character’s personality, Wei Yong poring over extensive materials about Ye Shengtao, meticulously studying and internalizing the traits and intellectual evolution of the young scholar. “Young Ye Shengtao lived during the Republic of China, a time of profound social transformation—old feudal ideas were being dismantled, yet deeply entrenched habits persisted. As a teacher, he was approachable, steady‑tempered, and remarkably affable, yet his nature also harbored rebellious thoughts and a drive to forge ahead, along with the distinctive aura of someone destined to become a towering figure in his field.” Though separated by nearly a century, Wei Yong and the young Ye Shengtao inhabited vastly different eras. “To bring Mr. Ye to life,” he explains, “I had to find ways to get as close as possible—through his manner of speaking, his gestures, his temperament, and even his overall presence.” A graduate of a normal school, Wei Yong naturally possesses a calm, composed demeanor, while his experiences have kept him warm and accessible. Confident in his ability to embody the youthful Ye Shengtao, he declares, “I will do my utmost to let audiences see the real Ye Shengtao of that era.”
More than forty people from Luzhi played “the masses.”
“Ye Shengtao in Luzhi” recreates Ye Shengtao’s work and life in Luzhi back then. During filming, local residents were called upon to participate, taking on roles such as students, the town mayor, local gentry, and patrons of the teahouse. The production team planned to have locals portray these everyday figures.
“Down-to-earth, quick-thinking, and passionate about the arts…” As soon as the recruitment criteria were announced, the people of Luzhi showed tremendous enthusiasm, with hundreds applying. After several rounds of rigorous screening, just over forty candidates were selected.
When the reporter arrived in Luzhi, the film crew was shooting inside a teahouse. The town mayor and a group of local gentry were sipping tea and discussing Ye Shengtao’s reforms—remarkably, all the actors were local residents. Mr. Wu wore a long gown, round spectacles, and a small mustache glued to his upper lip. “I’m playing a local gentry member, a symbol of feudal propriety, who opposes Ye Shengtao’s reforms,” Mr. Wu told the reporter, introducing his character.
Mr. Wu is a laid-off worker from out of town who now lives in Luzhi; he calls himself a “new Luzhian” and has a deep love for the town. At first, the production team cast him because “his appearance fit the needs of the storyline,” but now they praise him as “the best extra.”
Another extra who has earned high praise from the production team is Zhang Lan, a student at Ye Shengtao Experimental Primary School. She plays Xiao Lian, one of Ye Shengtao’s students, with about fifteen or sixteen scenes—“she’s practically a lead actor already.” Due to scheduling constraints, the reporter was unable to meet Zhang Lan, but the crew heaped her with accolades: “She has a pair of expressive eyes,” and “She grasps the storyline quickly; once you explain it, she gets it right away—she’s practically a professional actress.”…
Yang, one of the planners of “Ye Shengtao in Luzhi,” believes that the people of Luzhi harbor a special affection for Ye Shengtao; accordingly, even the extras grasp the plot with remarkable speed and quickly immerse themselves in their roles.
Surprisingly, even extras have to pay a price. During interviews, the reporter heard an amusing anecdote: since the characters in the series are set in the 1910s and 1920s, the production team asked some of the extras to shave off the hair on the top of their heads. One resident of Luzhi, who had finally been cast as the “town mayor,” ultimately had to give up the role because he simply couldn’t bear parting with his long, flowing locks. Teacher Yang told the reporter with a smile that, in fact, one of the hiring criteria explicitly stated, “willingness to dedicate oneself to the arts.”